FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-10-01

College Softball: No. 7 Armstrong Atlantic State 11-2, UNC Pembroke 0-3

Courtesy of UNC Pembroke Sports Information

PEMBROKE, N.C. – Entering the seventh and final inning of the second game of their Peach Belt Conference doubleheader with The Armstrong Atlantic State University Pirates, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Braves trailed 2-0 and had only two hits. However, the Braves bats came alive in the inning with four hits and three runs to give UNCP a 3-2 win. The Pirates took the first game 11-0.

The rally began when second baseman Erica Jones beat out a ground ball hit into the hole at second base. Left fielder Amanda Morrow then singled up the middle to give the Braves runners on first and second. First baseman Misty Tarlton then tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but Armstrong catcher Kelli McNary fielded it and threw out Jones at third.

However, on the next pitch Morrow and pinch runner Summer Eudy advanced to third and second, respectively, on a wild pitch by Armstrong starting pitcher Julie King. Third baseman Lauren Jernigan then singled to left field to score Morrow, and advance Eudy to third. Jernigan reached second base on the throw to the plate.

Pitcher Nicole Fields followed Jernigan and flied out the center for the second out of the inning. Designated hitter Gerri Mulligan became the hero, however, when she hit a shallow fly to left field that scored both Eudy and Jernigan and earned the Braves a split of the doubleheader.

Fields earned the win in pitching a complete game. She allowed two earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out six. King was tabbed with the loss in allowing the three earned runs on six hits.

Armstrong’s Annie Sells nearly made the doubleheader her own personal showcase. Sells hit two solo homeruns as the designated hitter to left field in the second game to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead. In the first game Sells earned the win as the Pirates’ starting pitcher. In that game Sells allowed only three hits and two walks in going the distance.

Every Pirate starter got a hit in the game, with first baseman Nicole Weirauch and Sells each securing three hits. On the day Sells was 5-for-7 at the plate with four runs scored and three RBI’s.

The Braves are 15-27 overall and 2-12 in the Peach Belt after the split. Armstrong is 25-10 and 5-7. The Braves return to action this Friday at 2:30 when they host USC-Spartanburg in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader. AASU travels to Francis Marion for a doubleheader at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday.